The Royal Thai Navy prepared to send help to victims of Indonesia’s latest earthquake and tsunami, setting up the HTMS as a floating hospital.
The ship was brought to Sattahip Naval Base Oct. 6 for drills in handling victims of the Sept. 28 disaster which has killed at least 1,700 people, with countless more missing, and destroyed 65,000 homes.
Foreign aid began arriving Oct. 5 with Thailand expected to join others once the Angthong is up and running. At press time, the RTN was waiting for confirmation from Indonesian authorities as to whether such a vessel could get close enough to help.
The ship has an examination room, 14 patient rooms and two beds for patient monitoring, a small surgical theater, x-ray equipment and dental facilities.
Doctors from the Naval Medical Department and Queen Sirikit Naval Medical Center will staff the ship, along with sailors and officers totaling 500 personnel, plus two helicopters and heavy equipment that have been prepared to assist operations should the vessel get the go ahead.
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